Electrically controlled valve system



May L 393412 E. L.. LIPP ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE SYSTEM mm A Filed Feb. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet f/V VENTO/z ATTO ,QA/EY.

lay El., E934. E. L. LIPP l957069 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A rroQ/VEK Patented May l, 1931i ELECTRIICALLY CN'EROLLED VALVE SYSTEM:

filmer lL. lisp, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner, by niesne assignments, to Benning, Enc., Reno, Nev., a corporation of Nevada Application February lll, 1933, Serial No. 656,703

1d Claims.

My invention relates to a means for controlthe opening and closing of a valve which in controls the flow of a fluid to a device in suc ls usci.

ple of the use of my invention, -s such as employed for pressing arel have steain boilers for generatoilers g Lerally deriving t,k neat from the gas or oil. My new device provides ontrolling the of the presser by 1 e flow of fuel to the burner of the s it is now an extensive pracdevices of the aoove character to ng establishments on time payment and to provide on the machine a coin .ren e in which a coin is to he placed each day which applies as payment on the ice of the device. In the preferred tice of invention the placement of a coin coin receptacle starts the actuation of a g device the consequent actuation of a ..cl means for the valve in the fuel line which perm -e valve to he opened so as to perfuel to the burner of the device, the ce then continuincr to operate through mployed in such pressers, these .g de rescrihed period of time, such fifteen hours, the end of whic.Y time the valve will he autotically closed, shutting Yoff the fuel so that use ci" the device thereafter requires placement coin the coin receptacle. By use this cher eter on equipment being od tirL e hasis, assurance of oi a coin in the coin receptacle each for the reason that the timing sociated with and forming part of the shut down the equipment ng of eaclconsecutive working cans ier manually actuating the main ng me l to its relatively on positoget'ne" with a means which normally tuaticn of the main controlling mechautomatically moves into a popernitting actuation of such main conn the conditions for such n are proper. example, a prop-e 1 contlie actuation the main controlling (Cl. 19d-3) in a time controlled switch or similar timing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having an exposed, manually operable actuating member which may he moved to its relatively on position so as to place the main controlling mechanism. in its on position when conditions for the saine are proper. A feature of the invention that the ina-in controlling mechanism or valve need not ce moved to its on position by use of the operating member until such time as the user may desire. Therefore, it will be seen that the valve is automatically opened but is manually opened at such time that the use of i'uel 'is desired, and that therefore danger of escape of fuel and formation of an explosive rniX- ture, due to a premature turning on of the fuel, is avoided.

it is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the above character which will positively operate to return the main controlling mechanism to its relatively off position when conditions for the on position of the mechanism are not proper, regardless of whether the operating member is in its relatively on or relatively on position. For example, where the invention is employed in conjunction with a time controlled switch, the main controlling mechanism, or valve, will be opened automatically at the end of a prescribed period of time.

Further olojects and advantages of the invention will'ioe evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Refer ing to the drawings, which are for illustive purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a face view of a preferred embodiment of my invention with the cover thereof in open position, shovnng the valve thereof in relatively off position, this View including schematically an illustration of a burner to which the device is connected.

2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the op- Ecarts of the valve in their relatively on position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig, 1.

Fig. i is a cross section on a plane represented by the line -l of Fig. 2.

5 is a fragmentary section on a plane represented y the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawings, my invention includes a controlling mechanism 12 which may be represented hy a gate valve of the type having a cody 13 with connections le and 15 for pipes 16 and 17, this body, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, having a gate 18 mounted on a shaft 20 so as to be swung between opened and closed positions relative to the passage of the valve. For operating the valve, I provide an operating element 21 in the form of a lever mounted on the projecting shaft 20 and being adapted to swing from the relatively off position in which it is shownin Fig. 1 to the on position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. It is preferable to mount the valve within a suitable protective casing 22, and within this casing a spring 23 may be provided for normally urging the member 21 toward its off position, the spring 23 being shown in the drawings as connected to a plate 24 mounted on a wall of the case or box 22 and to an extension 21a formed on the member 2l. Pivotally mounted on the member 21 is an actuating member 25 consisting essentially of a hat metal plate or lear" 26 and tongues 27 bent into laterally extending positions at one end thereof and being drilled for engagement with a pin 28 carried by the member 21 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 20. A spring 39 mounted on the pin 28 resiliently forces the actuating member 25 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. Against the force or" the spring 30, the member 25 may be rotated rightwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 or, in other words, may be moved in a direction essentially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the member 21 when such member 21 is swung between on and ofi positions. Mounted in the upper wall 31 of the casing 22 is a tubular guide 32 through which an actuating member 33 extends, this actuating inember comprising a bar having a vertical slot 34 therein adapted to be engaged by a screw 35 which is threaded through the member 32 whereby to prevent rotation of the member 33. From the head of the screw 35 a spring 36 is carried to a projection 37 formed on the member 33 near the lower end thereof, this spring exerting a force for returning the member 33 from its position of Fig. 2 to its position of Fig. 1.

The guide member 32 is so placed that the lower end 38 of the member 33 will have a path of movement coinciding with the plane of the member 25 when such member 25 is in the position in whichit is shown in Fig. l. Therefore, the lower end 38, upon downward movement of the member 33, will engage the upper edge of the member 25, and, if conditions are proper, by exertion of pressure manually on the head 40 of the member 33, the engagement member 25 may be swung downwardly so as to carry the operating element 21 of the valve 12 into its on position of Fig. 2. A proper condition for the movement of the member 21 and the'member 25 from their positions of Fig. l to their positions of Fig. 2 is the movement of a stop member 42 from its position of Fig. 1 to its position of Fig. 2. It will be noted that this stop member comprises a plate 43 having a shoulder 44 which in Fig. 1 rests under the lower edge of the engagement member 25 and therefore prevents downward movement of the member 25 by manual operation of the member 33; but when the member 42 is swung letwardly into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the shoulder or stop proper 44 will be out of the path or" movement or the member 25, and such member 25 may be then moved downwardly from its position of Fig. 1 to its position of Fig. 2 by application of downward force on the upper end of the member 33.

The plate 43 of the stop 42 has a web 45 formed perpendicularly thereon, as shown in Fig. 3, this web being secured to an armature 46 or" a magnetic control or actuating means 47 which further includes a iield member 48 of U-shaped form on which a coil 50 is mounted in accordance with the general practice of malring A. C. magnets. rEhe armature 46 has side arms 5l which in Fig. 2 engage pivot members 52 carried by the base' 53 of the magnetic device 47, there being a stop 54 for limiting the outward movement of the armature 45 relative to the held member 48. On the upper end of the web 45 a portion 55 is bent leitwardly, and such portion carries a pivot bolt 56 on which a latch lever 57 is mounted. An end 58 of the lever 57 extends behind the guide member 32 and is adapted to swing through a slot 6G in the rearward portion of the member 32, into engagement with a circumferential groove 62 in the member 33, when the stop member 42 is in its position of Fig. 2 and the member 33 is depressed as also shown in this Figure. A spring 63 extends between the end 64 and an opening 65 in the web 45 and has the function or" rotating the end 58 of the lever 57 outwardly toward a stop lug 66 formed on the upper end or the plate 48 of the stop 42, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

In the embodiment of my invention employed for illustrative purposes, I show conductors 67 and 68 whch connect the coil 50 of the magnetic means 47 with a suitable switching mechanism 7G, this device 70 being preferably a coin operated time switch of the general character shown in my copending application Serial No.

641,496, iled November 7, 1932, for Release for coin controlled switch, having an external coin opening 71 into which a coin may be inserted to permit rotation of an external control knob 72 which will close a switch 69 for connecting the conductors 67 and 63 to feed conductors '73 and 74 and at the same time starting a timing device 75, such as a synchronous motor, which will at the end of a set period of time open the switch 69.

The method of operation of the device is as follows: Let it be assumed that the pipe 17 connects through a valve 76 with a burner 77 which may be employed in the steam generator of a pressing machine. lighted, the valve 12 must be opened, which is accomplished by inserting a coin, such as a quarter, in the coin opening 71 oi the coin operated timing switch 70, so that the knob 72 may be turned to close the switch 6), whereupon the coil 50 will be energized and the armature 46 will be magnetically moved from its position of Fig. l to its position or Fig. 2, thereby carrying the stop 42 leftwardly. Thereafter, the member 33 may be depressed to engage the member 25 and thereby move the member 21 downwardly from off position to on position, with the result of swinging the gate 18, Fig. 4, into open position. When the circumferential groove 62 of the member 33 coincides with the slot 60 in the guide member 32, the end 58 of the latch lever 57 will move into engagement with the groove 62, thereby latching the member 33 in lowered position and holding the parts 25 and 21 in their on position so as to maintain the valve 12 open. From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be noted that the engageable member 25, when in on position, lies adjacent the edge 80 of the stop 42. Accordingly, when the timer of the device 70 operates to open the switch Before the burner can be 69 and the armature 46 is magnetically released, the stop member 42 will move rivhtwardly from its position of 2 to its position of Fig. l and will swing the member Z5 rightwardly from its position of Fig. 2, out from under the lower end 33 of the member 33, whereupon the spring 23 will move the operating lever 2l upwardly, carrying the member 25 upwardly the righL side oi the member 33. At the same time movement or" e stop l2 into its position o Fig. l will result in the lug S6 engaging thV lever 5'.7 so as to move the end 58 of the lever 57 into a dotted line position Sl, out of engagement with the groove 62 oi the member 33, thereby permitting the spring 36 to move the member 33 from lowered position shown in Fig. 2 to its position of Fig. lt is to be noted, however, hat the turning oil oi the valve l2 in consequence ci the release or" the control device formed by the magnetic member, its associated parte, and the timer is positively accomplished, regardless of whether the member 33 moves upwardly .or not, for thc reason that the member 25 is moved out from under the lower end 38 oi the member 33. Accordingly, it is not possible to maintain the valve l2 in closed pos n by holding the member 33 in lowered position, and therefore tile purpose oi the device cannot be defeated in the manner above described.

Although the timer may be the casing in the drawings i :s s .own outside the casing 22 and such case is prov-iced with a hinged cover S5 adapted to be secured si uated within t is l^ in closed position by means of screw lock S6 which threads into a bracket 87 sectreC to the interior of the casing 22. When key SS is inserted in the loci; 86, it may be unscrewed and the door may opened to give access to the mechanism.

Although l have herein shown described my invention in simple and tical form, is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are re sentative o other parts, clements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

. A. device of the character described, includ- U-f moved between on and ofi positions, being part for manually moving elenie-.. to on position; a magnetic control adaptd 'to be changed :trom operative to inoper said magnetic control having a stop preventing movement elem -t to on position when said is in inoperative condition; an. to

og movement ci said elemen .e to inoperative condi.

2. A device oi the character described, including: a valve having an operating element ad to be moved between on oli posit' there being a part for manually moving said element to on position; a magnetic control adapted to be changed from operative to inoperative condition, said magnetic control having stop for preventing movement ci said element from od position to on position when said magnetic control is in inoperative condition; means for causing movement of said element to on position when said magnetic control changes from operative to inoperative condition; and means for delivering current to said control, such means embodying a switch and a timing device or actuating said switch. l

3. A device of the character described, including; a valve having an operating element adapted to be moved between on and off positions, there being a part for manual movement trom a primary position to a secondary position so as to move said element to on position; a magnetic control adapted to be changed from operative to inoperative condition, said magnetic control having a stop for preventing movement oi said element rom ofi position to on position when said magnetic control is in inoperative condition; and means for causing movement of said element to oir position when said magnetic control changes rrom operative to inoperative condition independently of the position of said part for moving said operating element to said on position.

fr. A device or the character described, including: a main controlling mechanism having an operating element adapted to be moved between on and oli positions, there being a part for manually moving said element to on position; a magnetic control adapted to be changed from operative to inoperative condition, said magnetic control having a stop for preventing movement ci said element from oli position to on position when said magnetic control is in inoperative condition; and means for causing movement of said element to orf position when said magnetic control changes from operative to inoperative condition.

5. A device or the character described, including: a main controlling mechanism having an operating element adapted to be moved between on and oli positions, there being a part i r manually moving said element to on" position; a magnetic control adapted to be changed from operative to inoperative condition, said magnetic control having a stop for preventing movement of said element from oil position to "on position when said magnetic control is in inoperative condition; means for causing movement oi said element to oli position when said magnetic control changes from operative to inoperative condition; and means for delivering current to said control, said last named means embodying a switch and a timing device foractuating said switch.

6. A device of the character described, including: a main controlling mechanism having an operating element adapted to be moved between on and od positions, there being a part for manual movement from a primary position to a secondary position so as to move said element to on position; a magnetic control adapted to be changed from operative to inoperative condition. said magnetic control having a stop for preventing movement oi said element from 01T position to on position when magnetic contro-l is in inoperative condition; and means tor causing movement of said element to on position when magnetic control changes from operative to inoperative condition independently of the position of said part for moving opera-ting element to said on position.

'7. A device of the character described, including: a valve having an actuating member movable between off on positions; a spring tending to move said actuating member from "on to on position; an engageable member movably mounted on said actuating member; an operating member adapted to be manually moved from relatively off to relatively on position and having a path of movement wherein it will engage said engageable member whereby to move said actuating member of said valve to on position; a stop member movably mounted so as to swing out of the path of movement through which said engageable member is moved by said operating member; means resiliently tending to hold said stop member in said path of movement of said engageable member; magnetic means for moving said stop member from said path oi movement of said engageable member to permit movement of said engageable member by said operating member to its relatively on position; and latch means having operative connection with said stop member so that the movement of said stop member to its position out of the path of movement of said engageable member will cause said latch means to hold said actuating member in its on position when it has been moved into such position.

8. A device of the character described, including: a valve having an actuating member movable between 01T and on positions; a spring tending to move said actuating member from on to off position; an engageable member movably mounted on said actuating member; an operating member adapted to be manually moved from relatively off to relatively on position and having a path of movement wherein it will engage said engageable member whereby to move said actuating member of said valve to on position; a stop member movably mounted so as to swing out of the path of movement through which said engageable member is moved by said operating member; means resiliently tending to hold said stop member in said path of movement or said engageable member; mag etic means for moving said stop member from said path of movement of said engageable member to permit movement of said engageable member by said operating member to its relatively on position; latch means having operative connection with said stop member so that the movement oi said stop member to its position out of the path of movement of said engageable member will cause said latch means to hold said actuating member in its on position when it has been moved into such position; and means operative when said actuating member is in relatively on position to move said engageable member out of the path of movement of said operating member as said stop member moves into said path oi movement of said engageable member.

9. A device of the character described, including: a valve having an actuating member movable between off and on positions; a spring tending to move said actuating member from on to oil position; an engageable member movably mounted on said actuating member; an operating member adapted to be manually moved from relatively off to relatively on position and having a path of movement wherein it will engage said engageable member whereby to move said actuating member of said valve to on position; a stop member movably mounted so as to swing out of the path of movement through which said engageable member is moved by said operating member; means resiliently tending to hold said stop member in said path of movement of said engageable member; time controlled means for moving said stop member from said path of movement of said engageable member to permit movement of said engageable member by said operating member to its relatively on position, said time controlled means subsequentiT returning said stop member to said path of move-'nent or said engageable member; and latch having operative connection with stop member so that the movement of said stop n ember to its position out of the path of movement of said engageable member will cause said latch means to hold said actuating member' in its on position when it has been moved into such position.

i0. device of the character described, including: a main controlling mechanism having an actuating C and einher movable between on on posi ons; a spring tending to move said actuating member from on to oi position; an engageable m roer movably mounted on said actuating member; an operating member adapted to be moved from relatively o to relatively o position and having a path of movement wherein it will engage said engageable member eby to move said actuating member or" said e to on position; a stop movably mounted so as to swing out of the path of movement through which said engageable on iember from said path of move- ^geable member to permit movement of d engageable member by said operatto its relatively on position, said said sto; iember to said path of movement of said engagecb e member; and latch means having operative connection with said stop member so that ne motei.- ent of said stop member to its position out oi the path of movement or said engageable member will cause said latch means to hold said actuating member in its on position when it has been mov into such position.

il. A device tl e char ter described, including: a mai conti erating element adapted to be moved between on o positions, manually moving l and means exerting el ent to ofi adapted be che ve to inoperative condi-on, s .id me rnetie cont.y oi having a stop for prevent ig move nt of said element from ed position. to on position wlA en said magnetic control is in inopere on; and means cooperating with said torce eferting means to cause movement of ,nid element to oi position when said magnetic control changes from operative to inoperative condition.

l2. A deviee of the character described, including: a main controlling mechanisnn having an operating eleme t adapted to be moved between on and oir po ons, there eing a part for movingr said element to on position and means es:- ertin yieldable to move said element to position' adapted to be changed 'f om o ve condition, conJ p for preventing position to ontiol device is -3ans cooperating with to cause movement of said control erative conietic control A Nn device changes from operative do ino; dition.

means subsequently returning" mechanism having an op- 13. A device of the character described, including: a main controlling mechanism having an operating element adapted to be moved between on and ofi positions, there being a part for moving said element to on position and means exerting a yieldable torce to inove said element to oit position; a control device adapted to loe changed from operative to inoperative condition, said control device having a stop for preventing movement of said element from ed position to on position when said control device is in operative conc tion; means cooperating with said force exerting means to cause movement of said element to ofi position when said control device changes from operative to inoperative condition; and a timer connected to said control device and operating to produce said control device the aforesaid operative and inoperative conditions at timed intervals.

14. A device of the character described, including: a main controlling mechanism having an operating element adapted to be moved between on and off positions, there being a part for moving'said element to on position and means exerting a yieldable force to move said element to on position, a control device adapted to be changed from operative to inoperative condition, said control device having a stop for preventing movement of said element from off position to on position when said control device is in inoperative condition; means cooperating with said force exerting means to cause movement of said element to oir position when said control device changes from operative to inoperative condition; a timer connected to said control device and operating to produce in said control device the aforesaid operative and inoperative conditions at timed intervals; latch means for holding said part of said eleinent for moving said operating element in its relative on position; and a release for said latch means having connection with said control device to canse its actuation in consequence of said control device being in said inoperative condition.

ELMER L. LIPP. 

